So, lots of ‘stuff’ recently about the absence of powerful females in industry in general, which is reflected within the sub-strata of ‘film’– behind the camera and in front in juicy roles, instead of stereotyped as a)ditsy love-interests, b) hard-nosed bitches, c)seductresses/femme fatales, or d)tank girl-type kick-arses. So, where are all the women? I dunno about industry, but I’m pretty sure the Church is to blame! No, I’m joking – sort of. I think women have for a long time been painted as ‘home-makers’ in Western society, with the life goal of marriage and children, and the yardstick of success the partner’s income. Anyone who breaks this mould is painted as b, c or d, and children’s film and televisions still perpetuate these models.

For example! The 2013 Jack the Giant Slayer started well, with a poor boy and a rich princess told the same story at bedtime… but then the hapless damsel had to be rescued. He surmounted his obstacles of social rank to win her hand, but she evolved from being single to finding a 'strong' partner. There are emerging exceptions, but this is still a prevalent storyline in children’s entertainment and then when ‘they’ grow up, it’s entirely what ‘they’ expect as adults.

They – a great catchall that means everything and nothing! It’s just not that surprising ‘we’ grow up expecting to watch this in mainstream entertainment.

I was talking with my writing partner about my horror, Sequestration Manor.It involves old people, the supernatural, death, mutilation and decapitation, as any self-respecting horror would.We were chatting, conversationally, about the blood and gore and I caught a young man looking at us. It struck me that actually it's odd to talk about murder and evisceration. We obviously carried on - as you would, it's important to ensure your murders aren't gratuitous. I did think afterwards that a fly on the wall might call the police....What a lovely job -well, it is as long as the anti-terrorist squad don't turn up at my house